Patriots' WR Earns Rave Review from Mac Jones
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Tom Brady turned countless names, many of whom ventured in and out of New England Patriots' locker room on a revolving door basis, into fantasy football stars. Hoping for a bit of continuity, the Patriots used a second-round pick on Baylor catcher Tyquan Thornton last season.
The other half of the equation had a positive review with Thornton's offseason work, which comes after injuries limited him to 247 receiving yards in 13 appearances. With Thornton having put on more weight in the offseason after coming at 182 lbs., quarterback Mac Jones lauded the newly-buff second-round at organized team activities this week.
"He’s fast, he’s a smart football player, he’s got strong hands," Jones declared, via NESN. "I really think it’s just him continuing to grow that confidence just like we’re all working for, and he’s going to be a great player for a long time.”
Jones mentioned that he and Thornton, one of the most lauded names in the new century success of the Baylor Bears (leaving Waco eighth and 10th in receiving touchdowns and yardage respectively), had worked together earlier in the offseason, but a public positive review is the perfect assurance that Patriots fans worried about the direction of the offense need as rare doldrums on the NFL calendar await.
Thornton offered hints of his big play abilities in limited action last season: of his 22 receptions, half of them earned at least 10 yards. Of that tally, four came on the latter two downs of the drive.
While Thornton's 2023 circumstances aren't as dire or desperate as those of Jones, pressure nonetheless rising with the Patriots said to be engaged in the thick of the DeAndre Hopkins conversation and the team passing on other receiving prospects like George Pickens and Alec Pierce, who went in the immediate three picks after him.
Jones appreciates the way Thornton has responded to the early adversity and challenges.
“I think Tyquan, he’s done a really good job just trying to be consistent,” Jones said. “I got a chance to work with him in the offseason like a lot of the guys. For me and him, it’s all about communication."
"He has to grow and learn with me, and all the other guys, too. We’re all in the same boat together, but what you see is exactly what you’re going to get."
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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